Featured Post

MobyMax: Tablet + help differentiating instruction

It’s always nice when new toys show up in the mail to review. Especially when they promise to help make your program more tailored to the individual, that I really like!
What it is: MobyMax is more than just a tablet, it is a complete system that helps you identify areas of strength and...

1

What it is: StackUp is a really neat new web app that automatically scores online reading and learning. As you work online, StackUp captures data through the free web app and plugin which can be used on Mac and Windows (iOS and Android coming soon). When active, StackUp captures and attributes a score time that is spent anywhere online. It then categorizes it into 60 different subject areas including: news, finance, engineering, fashion, technology, sports, and online classes. StackUp is a metric that can offer insight into the commitment and study of a certain field.

How to integrate StackUp into the classroom: In the increasing digital landscape of the world (and classrooms) it is important to offer the opportunity for students to research and direct their own learning. StackUp offers students a way to share the commitment of learning with teachers and other stake holders. So often, we think about time spent online as “wasted” because, let’s face it, there can be lots of moments of wasted time online. But, the Internet is also a rich landscape for learning and continued learning in areas of passion. StackUp is a way for students to offer proof of this time spent learning so that teachers can appreciate and offer credit for that learning. Often classrooms have certain parameters and reading expectations for students. What if instead, we offered kids the ability to spend time researching, reading, and exploring things that they are passionate about…and then offer credit for it! StackUp could be the catalyst for more independent learning opportunities and studies within areas of passion. One of the things that I find holds teachers back from allowing this type of reading, is the inability to measure whether a student has really spent time on task.

I’ve often lamented about how I wish that the time spent in online education chats and reading educational blogs, articles, and whitepapers counted as professional development and credit hours. Seriously, I rack up the hours and it is always time well spent. As an administrator, I would happily accept a StackUp record of the time that my teachers engage in online material and offer credit and professional development hours for that time. I’ve gotten more out of the connections, chats, and learning that I’ve done with all of you online, than most of the required professional development. This could be transformational for helping tell the story of the learning that we do independently.

Imagine “Stacking” up the learning from a young age in areas of passion, and continue throughout their lifetime giving students another way to distinguish themselves. Tools like StackUp could start to change the landscape of learning and how we decide who the “experts” are. Hint: it isn’t always the person with the most letters behind their name.

Tips: Worried that one of your students might be able to cheat the system and simply open a webpage and walk away? No need to worry! StackUp is built on a patent-pending software system that can detect the difference between a student who just opens a webpage versus the student who is actually engaged.

StackUp doesn’t always have to run in the background and record every single move you or your students make online, it allows users to turn it on or off at any time and delete time spent on a website or in any category…you know, for those of us who spend an embarrassing amount of time on Pinterest.

Want to really amp up your professional development with the best education conference you’ve ever been to? Join us for the 5 Sigma Edu Conference!

4

What it is: Dragon Box has got to be the most brilliant game for teaching a new concept I have seen in a LONG time. I am SO impressed with this app, I can’t say enough about it! This is a math game that teaches algebra without you really realizing that it is a math game teaching you algebra. It feels more like a logic card game than anything else. There are 200 puzzles that secretly teach kids to solve equations. They unlock each level by figuring out how to balance an equation (you have to isolate the dragon on one side of the board in order for him to emerge). After each level, he grows a little until he is full-grown. Students learn concepts such as elimination, fractions and isolating variables throughout the game. This is the best math app I’ve seen. It is NOT a drill/skill type app. It is actually teaching students to think like mathematicians instead of just asking them to solve a bunch of problems.

How to integrate Dragon Box+ into the classroom: I cannot say enough about this app. The way that it gets kids thinking is completely fantastic. Students learn algebra and how to think like mathematicians without even realizing it. The game gives minimal direction, and invites students to explore and try new things to isolate the dragon. The best way to use this app in this classroom: just let students start playing with it! I love that this app could be played by students as young as six years old successfully, but also used by high school students where they would get those “aha” moments of understanding how algebra works that they may have missed along the way.

Put your students in teams, or let them explore Dragon Box independently. Dragon Box allows for multiple logins, so you could even use it as a classroom center rotation.

Because you can download Dragon Box on multiple device types, you could even use this on a classroom computer connected to an interactive whiteboard or a projector and take turns playing as a class. There are plenty of levels for every child to participate multiple times.

2

What it is: Meraki lets you centrally manage mobile devices, macs and PC’s from the cloud based dashboard. The systems manager makes it simple to centrally manage applications on iOS, Android, Mac and PC devices. It integrates with Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store and Apple’s Volume Purchase Program. In addition to being able to manage apps, Meraki makes it easy to enforce and deploy restrictions on mobile devices. Choose how your students access the app store, gaming and content, how they connect wirelessly, security settings and remote VPN access. Meraki has a virtual backpack where content can be shared with devices. Files and documents can be added and sent wirelessly. Separate backpacks can be delivered to different classrooms so that the correct documents are shared with the students who need it. The cloud platform makes 1 to 1 projects and BYOD (bring your own device) roll outs manageable. The best part? Meraki is 100% free. You just can’t beat that!

How to integrate Meraki into the classroom: This is one of those tools that I WISH I had seen before I spent $3,000 on another solution. Blerg. Live and learn, right? Next year, this is the solution I will be using to manage all of our BYOD iPads at Anastasis. It has everything that we need. The integration with Apple’s Volume Purchase Program is pretty fantastic. This is a great way for the school to purchase and manage educational apps that we want to share with students. The cloud management means that we can manage devices from anywhere and we don’t have to have a dedicated server to do it. I can do a lot of things, but managing servers is not one of those things that I want to spend my time doing!

Meraki is a great solution for whole schools or single classrooms that need to manage devices. I love that Meraki can be used for a school initiated roll-out or in a single classroom BYOD initiative. Either way the tools are easy to use and will make the integration of technology in the classroom run smoother.

Tips: Check out the FAQ page to learn more about how Meraki gets installed on the student devices. The installation changes based on device.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Meraki in your classroom.

2

What it is:IDroo is an educational multi user whiteboard that lets students instantly collaborate online. Everything that is drawn or written on the whiteboard is visible to all participants in real-time. IDroo supports an unlimited number of meeting participants, the only limitations are computer power and internet connection speed. There is a professional math typing tool built-in making it easy to teach or work through math problems collaboratively. Best of all, IDroo can be used with Skype! IDroo is free for non-commercial use. Now for the downfall (and this is a HUGE downfall in my humble opinion), IDroo is currently only available for Windows. I know, disappointment for us Mac lovers. *sigh* If you are using a Windows computer this is a great way to collaborate online!

How to integrate IDroo into the classroom:IDroo would be a great app for collaborating with other classrooms around the world. Students can use the multi user whiteboard space to work together, share ideas, and brainstorm. IDroo would also be fantastic as a way for teachers to tutor students virtually. Set up an “open lab” time once a week online where students can drop in and get extra help. Virtual lab times are especially helpful for elementary students who can’t dictate their own schedules and often can’t stay after school for extra help.

Tips: Don’t forget to allow IDroo to access Skype API after you download!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using IDroo in your classroom!

2

What it is:Custom Guide is a website that offers free quick reference cheat sheets for using technology (operating systems and applications). The guides are two sided and remind me of Cliff Notes. Custom Guide allows you unlimited distribution rights and they make great support handouts. References include: Microsoft Access, Excel, FrontPage, Internet Explorer, InfoPath, Office, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, SharePoint, Visio, Windows, Appleworks, Mac OS, Entourage, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, Elements, and Firefox. My one problem with Custom Guide is that it is REALLY outdated for Mac guides. I suppose that for some schools this would be okay since it can take a while to adopt newer technology and some of us are working with dinosaur computers and software, but for me it is no good. Custom Guide also offers free online learning with interactive tutorials and you can even create your own custom courses.

How to integrate Custom Guide into the classroom: Custom Guide would be very useful for the computer lab setting. Print out and laminate the most used applications and operating system sheets. Bind with a single ring and keep next to each computer. As students have questions or issues, they can consult their cheat sheets for the answers first. This is also nice for non-computer teachers who are using the computer labs or classroom computers with students. The cheat sheets give them an added level knowledge quickly and easily. If you are a computer teacher or a teacher who is known for using technology in your classroom, you undoubtedly get frequent questions about how to use applications from your colleagues. I don’t always have time to sit down and give mini lessons, having these cheat sheets on hand could be a big help for those times.

Tips: Even though the Mac Custom Guides are a bit outdated, the guides they do have are very handy. When you sign up for a free account, you can ask for updates to be sent to you when they add a new guide. In the mean time, Apple has some great support guides for their products.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Custom Guide in your classroom.